Method and apparatus for delivery of fresh produce

Abstract

A packing device comprising a first carton having a plurality of cut outs in the shape of fruit; and a second carton having a plurality of oval indentations, said second carton placed on said first carton with said plurality of oval indentations aligned over said plurality of cut outs.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

This invention relates generally to packaging of produce.

2. The Prior Art

Currently, gourmet fresh produce is shipped by refrigerating the produce. The refrigeration of the produce causes condensation on the produce which promotes rotting and other types of degradation to the produce. The method herein described eliminates the need to refrigerate the produce and allows for longer shipping times.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a box insert for the delivery of produce;

FIG. 2 is the bottom carton of the box insert;

FIG. 3 is the top carton of the box insert;

FIG. 4 is the bottom carton of the box insert formed to shape an American flag;

FIG. 5 is the bottom carton of the box insert formed to shape an American flag of strawberries and blueberries;

FIG. 6 is the bottom carton of the box insert formed to shape an American flag of cherries and blueberries; and

FIG. 7 is the bottom carton of the box insert formed to shape a heart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following description is illustrative only and not in any way limiting. Other modifications and improvements will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. In the following description, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a box insert 2 for the delivery of produce. The box insert 2 is comprised of a bottom carton 4 and a top carton 6. The cartons 4, 6 may be manufactured from any material which will absorb an impact without damaging the fruit stored within the box insert 2. Alternatively, the bottom carton 4 maybe manufactured without the oval indentations. Such materials include but are not limited to foam and plastic. The bottom carton 4 has a plurality of oval indentations 8 and ridges 9 which run the length of the bottom carton 4 and parallel to the other oval indentations 8. The top carton 6 has a plurality of oval indentations 10 and ridges 12 which run the length of the top carton 4 and parallel to the other oval indentations 10. When the bottom carton 4 and the top carton 6 are placed together, the oval indentations 8 and ridges 9 of the bottom carton 4 and the oval indentations 10 and ridges 12 of the top carton 6 compliment each other.

FIG. 2 is the bottom carton 4 of the box insert. The bottom carton has a plurality of seats 16 which are used to hold produce snugly without applying excessive pressure. The seats 16 maybe created to go through the entire carton or only partially. Additionally, oval indentations 12 maybe formed in the carton to further minimize the pressure on the produce. The oval indentations 12 are separated by ridges 8. The ridges 8 are used to support the top carton and prevent damage to the produce. In this embodiment, the carton is cut to hold strawberries. In other embodiments, the carton may be cut to hold cherries or any other produce.

FIG. 3 is the top carton 6 of the box insert. The oval indentations 10 and ridges 14 can be seen to run the length of the top carton 6. The oval indentations 10 provide a gap to minimize the pressure on the produce while maintaining it in the correct position.

FIG. 4 is the bottom carton 4 of the box insert 2 formed to resemble an American flag. The bottom carton 4 is cut to remove a rectangular portion in the upper left corner 18 to give a stylized appearance of an American flag.

FIG. 5 is the bottom carton 4 of the box insert 2 formed to resemble to an American flag made from a plurality of strawberries 20 and a clear box of blueberries 22 stylized with a plurality of stars 25. This design is then mounted within a shipping crate

FIG. 6 is the bottom carton 4 of the box insert 2 formed to resemble to an American flag made from a plurality of cherries 26 and a clear box of blueberries 22 stylized with a plurality of stars 25. This design is then mounted within a shipping crate 24

FIG. 7 is a bottom carton of the box insert formed to a heart 28 inside a shipping crate 24. The excess space within the shipping crate 24 is filled with packing material 30. Further, a plurality of seats 32 are created to hold produce 34. In further embodiments, a heart shaped seats 36 maybe created to hold an item 38. The item 38 maybe a dipping sauce for the produce or any other item the packer may desire.

While embodiments and applications of this disclosure have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications and improvements than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The disclosure, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the . spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A packing device comprising:

a first carton having a plurality of cut outs in the shape of fruit; and

a second carton having a plurality of oval indentations, said second carton placed on said first carton with said plurality of oval indentations aligned over said plurality of cut outs.

2. The packing device of claim 1 wherein said first carton further comprises a plurality of oval indentations aligned with said plurality of cut outs.

3. The packing device of claim 2 wherein said plurality of cut outs are in the shape of a fruit.

4. The packing device of claim 3 wherein said fruit is a strawberry.

5. The packing device of claim 3 wherein said fruit is a cherry.

6. The packing device of claim 2 wherein said first carton has a left end, a right end, a top end and a bottom end and proximate to said left end and said top end a rectangle shaped portion is removed.

7. The packing device of claim 6 further including a rectangular package of blueberries proximate to said left end and said top end.

8. The packing device of claim 7 wherein said plurality of cut outs are in the shape of a fruit.

9. The packing device of claim 8 wherein said fruit is a strawberry.

10. The packing device of claim 3 wherein said fruit is a cherry.

11. The packing device of claim 2 wherein said first carton and said second carton are formed in the shape of a heart.

12. The packing device of claim 11 wherein said plurality of cut outs are in the shape of a fruit.

13. The packing device of claim 12 wherein said fruit is a strawberry.

14. The packing device of claim 12 wherein said fruit is a cherry.

15. The packing device of claim 12 wherein said first carton further includes a midpoint and a heart shaped seats proximate to said midpoint.

16. The packing device of claim 15 further including a dipping sauce within said heart shaped seats.

17. A method for shipping fresh fruit for shipment comprising:

providing a bottom carton having a plurality of fruit shaped seats;

picking a plurality of fruit;

placing said plurality of fruit in each of said carton plurality of fruit shaped seats;

placing a top carton having a plurality of oval indentations aligned with said plurality of fruit shaped seats on said bottom carton; and

shipping said carton at ambient temperature.